Rotary engine



No. 609,543. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

E. J. HERCHEBT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 21, 1898.)

2- Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 23, I898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. .1. HERCHERT. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 21, 1898.) 1

(No Model.)

Miran STATES EDWIN I'IERCHER'I, OF GARNAVILLO, IO\V A.

ROTARY ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,543, dated August 23,1898. Application filed January zn ssal sea No. 667,465. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it mag concern: 1

Be it known that I, EDWIN J .'HEROHERT, a

citizen of the United States,residing at Garnavillo, in the county of Clayton and State of Iowa, have invented a new and: useful Ro to utilize the maximum expansion of the mtive agent, and, furthermore, to provide simticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view parallel with and in the plane of the pistonaXis on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view perpendicular to the pistonaxis. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the fixed eccentric-arm and the connections thereof with one of the piston-wings. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the adjustable eccentric-arms and the connections thereof with a pistonwin g. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the reversinglever. Fig. 7 is a detail transverse section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is'a detail view in perspective of the fixed abutment.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-" responding partsin all the figures of the draw ings.

Supported by a base 1 is a cylinder 2, havin g heads 3, and revolubly mounted in the easing is a piston having a rim 4, spokes 5, and" a hub 6, the latter being keyed to the driven shaft 7, which is mounted in bearings 8, supported by pedestals 9, rising from the base or bed plate. The rim of the piston is channeled to form side ribs 10 flush with shoul-' ders 11 on the cylinder-heads, said shoulders forming bearings for the inner surface of-the cylindrical wall of theicasing- These ribs of the piston are fitted with suitable packingrings 12, held from independent movement by 111635011 of contact with the inner surface of the cylinder-wall by means of pins 13.

Communicating with theinterior of the casfing in the space between the peripheral ribs 10-of the piston by means of cylinder-ports l lis a steam-chest 15, 'having a supply-port 16 and an exhaust-port 17, said cylinder and exhaust ports being controlled by a throttlevalve 18 of the sliding type, said valve having a stem 19. This valve-stem is connected by a' link 20 with an arm 21 on a rockshaft 22.

- Between thecylinder-ports and mounted to slide in a suitable radial guide 23 is a stationary abutment 24., yieldingly held in terminal contactwith the floor of the channel in the piston by means of an actuating-spring 25. The inner or operative end of this abutment 24:is provided with side shoulders 26 to bear tongue 27, having inwardly-convergent side edges to fit snugly against the cross sectionally inwardly-convergent side walls of the channel or steam-chamber in the piston, this construction being adapted to preserve a steam-tight contact between the abutment and the peripheral surface of the piston to prevent backward leakage of the motive agent. Mounted for rotary adjustmentcoaxially with the piston, and preferably upon the shaft 7 thereof, is an eccentric 28, having a sleeve 29, which is mounted in an extended bearing 30,'formed in the center of the contiguous cylinder-head. Fixed to the outer end of this sleeve 29 and having a flange 31 overlapping the contiguous end of the bearing is a revoluble cap 32, which in the construction illusstrated is preferably provided with sprocketteeth to constitute a chain wheel or pulley,

the attachment of this cap to the sleeve being accomplished by means of a pin 34: or its equivalent. It is obvious that by turning the cap 32 the eccentric may be adjusted to vary cility I attach to the cap 35the innerend of a reversing-lever 36, bolts 37 being employed for this purpose. The reversing-lever may be locked at the desired adjustment by means of a seat 38, mounted to slide upon the lever the position of its major diameter,land in order that this may be accomplished with faand having an actuating-spring 39, whereby it is normally held depressed toward the axis of the lever, and a series of spaced pins 40, projecting longitudinally from the contiguous cylinder-head and adapted to fit in the seat 38 when the latter is alined radially therewith. For Withd rawing the seat 38 from one of the holding-pins 40 I employ a hand-lever 41.

Projecting radially from and preferably formed integral with an eccentric-strap 42, which is mounted upon the eccentric 28, is a fixed eccentric-arm 43, terminating in a slideeye 44, and mounted for radial movement upon the piston is a main slide of angular or elbow shape, with its radial arm fitted in guides 46 on the piston and extending through the eye 44. On this radial arm of the slide, respectively upon opposite sides of the eye 44, are arranged adjustable tappets 47, consisting of nuts or their equivalents and adapted to be varied in position to vary the independent throw of the eccentric-arm with relation thereto. The longitudinal arm of the slide also terminates in an eye 48, and threaded therein is the inner end of a pistonwing stem 49, which extends radially into a socket 50, formed in a contiguous piston-wing 51. This piston-wing it fitted to slide radially in a pocket 52, formed in the periphery of the piston, and is provided with lateral stop-ears 53 forlimiting the inward movement thereof, suitable depressions being formed in the periphery of the piston to receive the stops, whereby the outer end of the wing is adapted to occupy a position flush with the floor of the channel in the piston. The pistonwing stem extends through a cap-screw 54 in the inner end of the socket and is provided with a collar 55, between which and the outer end of the socket is arranged a coiled spring 56, whereby the outer end of the wing is adapted to be held in yielding contact with the inner surface of the cylinder-Wall when the wing is extended.

In addition to the main eccentric-arm 43 I employ auxiliary or adjustable eccentricarms 57, secured to the eccentric by means of bolts 58 and terminating in eyes 59 for the reception of a pin 60. This pin is shouldered, as at 61, and fits beyond the shoulder in a radial slot 62, formed in an auxiliary slide 63, which is mounted for radial movement upon the piston, said slide having side flanges or ribs 64, fitting in guides on the piston. The pin 60 is engaged beyond the slot 62 bya nut 65, by which the slide is clamped at the desired radial adjustment. A pistonwing correspondingin construction with that above described is used in connection with each auxiliary slide and is connected therewith by corresponding means, including a stem 49.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the piston-wings are withdrawn radially within the contour of the piston as they approach the fixed abutment 24 and that by varying the position of the eccentric the points at which the piston-wings will be retracted and extended may be varied to increase or diminish the length of exposure of each piston-wing t0 the pressure of live motive agent.

In order that the position of the throttlevalve may be reversed simultaneously with that of the eccentric, I preferably provide the rock-shaft 22 with a cross-head 66, to the arms of which are attached connecting-rods 67, which are in turn connected with a flexible traveler consisting of a sprocket-chain 68 or its equivalent, which traverses the sprocket-teeth on the periphery of the cap 32. Hence when this cap is turned to vary the position of the eccentric the position of the throttle-valve is correspondingly changed, and when the eccentric is reversed the throttle-valve is correspondingly operated. When the reversing-lever is operated to partly close the inlet-port or partly throttle the inlet of motive agent, the eccentric is turned to set back the point of extension of the pistonwings and also of their retraction, whereby each piston-wing is exposed fora greater distance to the expansive force of the motive agent to utilize the full expansion thereof, whereas when the reversing-lever is turned in an opposite direction the eccentric is moved to hasten the extension of the piston-wings or cause the extension thereof at a point near the inlet-port.

The reason for the difference in construction between the main or fixed eccentric-arm and the auxiliary arms is that through the main or fixed arm motion is communicated from the piston to the eccentric-strap, while the auxiliary arms receive no side strain and simply perform the function of radially actuating the slides with which they are connected.

It will be understood that in practice various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a rotary piston, a fixed abutment in contact with the periphery of the piston, piston-wings mounted for radial movement upon the piston, an eccentric mounted for rotary adjustment coaxially with the piston, operating connections between the eccentric and the piston-wings and means, including locking devices, for varying the position of the eccentric, substantially as specified.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a rotary piston, a fixed abutment in yielding and permanent contact with the periphery'of the piston, piston-wings mounted for radial movement upon the piston, an eccentric mounted for rotary adjustment coaxially with the piston, operating connections between the eccentric and the piston-wings,

and exterior means, including locking devices, for varying the position of the eccentric, substantially as specified.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder and valve mechanism, including a throttle-valve, a rotary piston having Wings mounted for radial extension and retraction, an eccentric mounted for rotary adjustment coaxially with the piston and operatively c011- nected with the piston-wings, means for varyin g the adjustment of the eccentric, and operating connections between the eccentric and said throttle-valve, substantially as specified.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder and valve mechanism, including a throttle-valve, of a rock -shaft operatively connected with the valve, a piston having radially-movable piston-wings, an eccentric mounted for rotary adjustment coaxially with the piston and operatively connected with said piston-wings, an exterior rotary cap connected with the eccentric, means for adjusting the cap to vary the position of the eccentric, and connections between said cap and the rock-shaft of the valve mechanism, substantially as specified.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder and valve mechanism, including a throttle-valve, of a rock-shaft operatively connected with the valve, a piston having radially-movable piston -wings, an eccentric mounted for rotary adjustment coaxially with the piston and operatively connected with said piston-wings, an exterior rotary cap connected with the eccentric and having peripheral sprocket-teeth, means for varying the position of the cap to adjust the eccentric, and connecting-rods between a cross-head upon the rock-shaft of the valve mechanism, and a flexible traveler traversing the toothed periphery of the cap, substantially as specified.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston having radial pockets in communication with a steam-chamber, piston-wings mounted to slide radially in said pockets,an eccentric,slides mounted in guides upon the piston, yielding connections between each slide and a piston-wing, and an eccentric strap having arms respectively connected with the slides, substantially as specified.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston having radial pockets in communication with asteam-chamber, piston-wings mounted to slide radially in said pockets, an eccentric, slides mounted upon the piston, a yielding connection between each slide and a piston-wing, the same including a piston-wing stem projecting into a socket in the wing, and a spring-cushion interposed between a shoulder of the stem and a fixed part of the wing, substantially as specified.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston having radial pockets in communication with a steam chamber, piston-wings mounted to slide radially in said pockets, an eccentric, slides mounted upon the piston, and a yielding connection between each slide and a piston-wing, the same including a piston-wing stem extending into a socket in the piston-wing, a cap-screw closing the inner end of the socket and forming a guide for the stem, and a spring coiled upon the stem between the collar thereof and the able piston-wings, an eccentric having an eccentric-strap for movement with the piston, slides mounted upon the piston and respec' tively connected with the wings thereof, and eccentric-arms carried by said strap and having a limited sliding connection, respectively, with the slides, substantially as specified.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston having a radially-movable piston-wing, an eccentric having a strap for movement with the piston,a slide mounted. upon the piston and having-connection with said wing, the slide being provided with radial ribs mounted in a guide on the piston and with a radial slot, an eccentric-arm carried by the said eccentric-strap, and a pin fixed to said eccentric-arm and extending through the slot of the slide, said pin being provided with clamping devices whereby the slide may be secured at the desired adjustment with relation thereto, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN J. HERCI-IERT.

Witnesses:

THEODORE G. SIEGE, OYEUs L. FULLER. 

